siberian forest cat description

The Siberian cat has a semi-long to long triple coat and it varies from coarse to soft.

The insulating
undercoat is thick and fluffy whilst the top coat is long and glossy. The hair may be slightly oily
which effectively provides waterproofing.

This rich full coat
effectively protects them from extreme, bitterly cold winters. (The coat
is thicker in winter than summer).

All
traditional colors and all color combinations are accepted, but strong colors and clear patterns are preferable.

The most common color is a
golden tabby, with black pattern over a golden agouti.

The Neva Masquerade is the name given to the colorpoint variety.

The
colorpoint is believed to be an offshoot of the Siberian. It may have
resulted from the introduction of the 'old-type' Siamese or from
breeding with pointed stray cats living along the Neva River in St
Petersburg.

Many
Russian Siberian Forest cat breeders prefer to maintain the original
colors and wild look of the breed - staying true to the original cat.

The Siberian is a large, compact and heavy cat, well muscled and powerful.

The
cat's legs are medium long, heavy boned and very muscular and the
hind legs are longer than the forelegs. It has a beautiful, well furnished, medium
length tail.

The head
is described as medium-large, shaped like a modified wedge with
rounded contours.

The Siberian's eyes are large, nearly round, open and expressive. Eye color has no relationship to coat color and ranges from copper to gold,
to green gold.

info for potential siberian cat owners

ideal home

The
Siberian cat is best suited to outdoor living, but by outdoors we mean
an escape-proof, safe enclosed garden.

They can adapt to indoor living,
but it's important to provide a suitable cat friendly environment for
them.

personality and temperament

The
Siberian cat is a playful, lively and active cat and is great with kids
and despite its dominance, it is friendly to other cats.

This is a soft and gentle
natured cat that makes a wonderful companion.

Owners describe it as dog-like and it loves to follow its owners
around.

It is an affectionate cat that is equally at home on a warm lap as it is in the great outdoors.

It has a fascination with water and likes nothing more than
dropping its much loved toys in pools of water. This cat is also an
excellent climber and jumper and loves to run around.

The Siberian has a
unique triple purr and makes chirping sounds.

cat care

This
is a longhaired cat and bi-weekly grooming is recommended to keep the
coat in tip-top condition.

During early Spring, additional grooming is
required.

Its thick undercoat can become matted if neglected
- especially the area under the armpits.

Visit our comprehensive cat care pages for great tips and guidelines on cat grooming, especially the page on hair care.

health concerns

Apart
from common infectious cat diseases for which it can receive cat
vaccinations, the Siberian Forest cat is a healthy cat breed. Cat health
insurance is something you should consider for all your pets.

diet | average weight

The Siberian does have a tendency to gain weight and diet and feeding needs to be
monitored.

There are commercial cat food brands for longhaired cats
which the manufacturers claim reduces hairball.